Pre-match Stoke V Liverpool League Cup semi-final 1st leg, 5th Jan 20.00

think Jürgen has told him straight prove to me your fit enough and he hasn't has he. With all the highly paid medical staff we have and access to the the best Doctors in the world this lad still cannot get himself free from injury.

Don't think he want to at times mate.

Read my post in the Sturridge thread where I paraphrased an excerpt from Stevie's last book.

Had to be begged by Stevie to play against the Mancs at Anfield despite doctors giving him the ok.

Mignolet
Clyne Lovren Sakho Smith
Allen Can
Lallana Coutinho Ibe
Firmino

Would bench Benteke, and put Firmino up. And wouldn't even have Firmino if there was anyone else available.
Give Smith a run, and Allen. Can for energy. And Ibe another chance.
Maybe, just maybe, try to replicate even some semblance of the away performances that blew us away some weeks back.

I like this. I have been wanting to see Firmino in a false 9 again. I just remind myself of the Man City game of him and Coutinho and pray it can start to become a consistent thing.

Tough test but over 2 legs I fancy us,

                     Mignolet
      Clyne Lovren Sakho Moreno
                    Lucas Can
           Ibe      Coutinho.   Canos
                        Firmino

I know,  Canos is still on loan t think, but Lallana for me just isn't pulling his weight, so I'd rather F**k him off and play someone who gives a F**k,


1-2 mighty Reds

YNWA

I'm liking that team very much but bloody well leave Bogdan out will ya, he's a damn liability.

Just figured he's been our Cup keeper so far. Might get the nod again.

It's like picking between a kick in the nuts and a punch to the face with those two in goal.

Don't think he want to at times mate.

Read my post in the Sturridge thread where I paraphrased an excerpt from Stevie's last book.

Had to be begged by Stevie to play against the Mancs at Anfield despite doctors giving him the ok.

http://www.balls.ie/football/steven-gerrard-audiobook-daniel-sturridge/310893

Unfuckingbelievable

Just been showing games between us , naturally they showed the 6/ 1 then they showed us duffing them 8 nil  note to big ben take a look at
 god, s last goal put through 1v 1 no fuss no dithering just put the fcker in the onion bag now thats how you do it .

It's suited us playing against teams who were favourites under Klopp so far.  Chelsea, City, Southampton (away) we were all a bit concerned I think. Leicester (home) too possibly considering their form. Now Stoke away is a tough game and they are in decent form at the moment. They are a much different Stoke to what they were under Pulis. Need to get a grip of Arnautovic early on. Man mark him. Afellay, Shaqiri and Bojan are the other dangers - their four lads in attack are all very good players.

I fancy us to go there and just dominate possession though just like we did in the above games. Don't let them play. As soon as they do gain possession then hunt them down. It's a shame we can't play like that every week but I fancy us tonight. When the pressure is off us to win the game we've come good. The pressure is all on Stoke, they're the ones at home in a 2 leg semi final. We need to work so much harder than we did against West Ham though, the boys need to pull their fingers out and put a shift in tonight.

Mignolet

Clyne
Sakho
Lovren
Moreno

Lucas
Can

Lallana
Coutinho
Ibe

Firmino

COME ON REDS.





 



 

I'm liking that team very much but bloody well leave Bogdan out will ya, he's a damn liability.

And Mignolet is... what?

Can't say that I am look forward to this game. Lets hope that our mid-field stays strong

Tough game.

If we dont deserve it then we dont deserve it.



Sturridge.
Just get rid.
Pumping out money week after week into his bank account for what ?
It was a cheapskate bad buy as he already had an injury list by then.
BR knew him so BR knew best.

well here we go again match day most pundits going for Stoke and as we seem to play one game good one game bad tonight should be a good game. Fancy us playing without a Striker tonight just trying to keep us in the game getting them back to "Fortress Anfield".

I'm feeling very positive about this game. Klopp will certainly be taking it very seriously and I am sure the players will not want a repeat of what happened against Villa last season. I also believe because this is a cup game, Stoke will have to come at us and that is when we usually play well.

                                       Mignolet
   Clyne            Lovren                     Sakho           Moreno

                                      Lucas
                        Allen                   Can

          Ibe                                       Coutinho   
                                Benteke

Would love to see a goal spectacular as against Southampton, but I think Liverpool will win by the only goal 1-0
                                   

I'm feeling very positive about this game. Klopp will certainly be taking it very seriously and I am sure the players will not want a repeat of what happened against Villa last season. I also believe because this is a cup game, Stoke will have to come at us and that is when we usually play well.

                                       Mignolet
   Clyne            Lovren                     Sakho           Moreno

                                      Lucas
                        Allen                   Can

          Ibe                                       Coutinho   
                                Benteke

Would love to see a goal spectacular as against Southampton, but I think Liverpool will win by the only goal 1-0
                                   

I think he will flood the midfield and I really think he is struggling to see what Benteke brings to a game to support the team.
Also if Sturridge travels to watch the game isn't it about time he starts paying for his ticket.
Funny thing about being a Liverpool supporter you cant help but be optimistic even when there is no logical reason to be.

Really need to get result tonight, cause don't really see that having the 2nd leg at home is that much of an advantage.
They are good at home, so will be tough.
Hope we leave out Benteke from first XI, even as an experiment just to see if we are more cohesive without him. If we're brutal, we can always bring him on later.
Most importantly ... turn up, and fight.

And Mignolet is... what?

Number two keeper in Belgium and a very, very, very good goalkeeper (Klopp's words not mine)

Number two keeper in Belgium and a very, very, very good goalkeeper (Klopp's words not mine)

We are signing a new goalkeeper Kamil Grabara next week mate. Klopp said he's only signed him to stop you moaning

He's only 16 but if Mignolet's as bad as you think, it shouldn't take Kamil long to break into the first team.

 

We are signing a new goalkeeper Kamil Grabara next week mate. Klopp said he's only signed him to stop you moaning

 

I'm a lot more upbeat this morning but its probably my usual pre match optimism kicking in.

On the forwards I think if were going to be using Benteke consistently I'd keep playing him and try and work something out.

This is going to be a tough, tough match. Stoke aren't playing for Europe, so winning a cup for their supporters is a priority. Plus they're actually playing some really good football of late. I'm a little worried, but you never know what you get with us these days.

I'm a lot more upbeat this morning but its probably my usual pretty match optimism kicking in.

On the forwards I think if were going to be using Benzene consistently I'd keep playing him and try and work something out.

Benzene a toxic substance now banned - certainly toxic on these forums   

Benzene a toxic substance now banned - certainly toxic on these forums   

 

Benteke pisses me off for this more than his football. I correct that every time and still it posts wrong sometimes.

I'm a lot more upbeat this morning but its probably my usual pretty match optimism kicking in.

On the forwards I think if were going to be using Benzene consistently I'd keep playing him and try and work something out.

Ironically, benzene evaporates in the air. Much like our Christian.

And i, too, am optimistic for some reason. Blind faith probably.

Could do with a bit of this tonight.

https://twitter.com/lfc/status/684359460567920640

Like to see Smith get a start tonight, though not in place of Moreno. Want 4 4 2 with Smith and Moreno interchangeable on the left.

Might switch off if I see Lallana Coutinho and Firmino all start with Benteke upfront on his own. It doesn't do anything for us except make us look poo